Palliative care facility squarely on agenda

Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell garners bi-partisan support for motion

Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell has put the need for a stand alone, purpose built palliative care facility on Mount Gambier squarely on the agenda, tabling a motion in State Parliament last week, garnering bi-partisan support from the floor.

Mr Bell (pictured right) made an impassioned plea to the halls of power, highlighting the work already well underway by dedicated locals to research the issue, fundraise for the facility and advocate strongly for patients and their families that face end-of-life and the care required.

“I am calling on the State Government to investigate the potential for a dedicated palliative care facility to be based in Mount Gambier, the state’s second largest city, and to service the nearly 70,000 residents in the Limestone Coast—a facility that provides a homelike environment for those who have a chronic life-limiting illness, a facility that provides respite for both patient and carer, a facility that can be a home to our specialist palliative care unit, a facility that can be home to our invaluable in-home hospice service, a facility that can give our student nurses and doctors the ability to specialise in palliative care, a facility that gives people a choice in their end-of-life journey,” Mr Bell said. “Let’s give those who have been given an end-of-life prognosis the dignity of choice and give them a good death.”

The Member for Mount Gambier highlighted statistics show the need for such a facility will only grow, citing personal stories of Limestone Coast residents from recent years and outlining the current level of care available, as well as the recently community-instigated In Home Hospice Care Service.

“Palliative care in Australian hospitals has increased by 28 per cent over the last four years,” Mr Bell said. “The impact of ageing and increased numbers of singleperson households will continue to place a greater demand on health services.

“Country patients have to do it tough. Those who suffer with cancer and chronic illnesses will have already had to spend countless hours travelling and days away from home to undertake treatment in Adelaide or Warrnambool. They do not have the luxury of returning to their home and family after treatment each day.

“Currently, the Limestone Coast is serviced by a hardworking team of specialist palliative care nurses who cover an extensive area from Mount Gambier to Bordertown.

They provide these services between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday. Our local hospital has one dedicated but not exclusive palliative care room, which is situated in an environment that struggles to provide person-centred care that meets the holistic, cultural and spiritual needs of the patient and their loved ones.

There is no resident palliative care specialist.

“Recently, through the efforts of the chair, Maureen Klintberg (pictured left), and a dedicated group of volunteers, we have seen the introduction of the Mount Gambier In Home Hospice Service. This service
provides vital non-medical support and assistance to help ease the burden on carers and families, allowing patients to stay home and out of hospital for longer. Too often in regional areas we lack access to the same services our metropolitan counterparts enjoy.”

One of those volunteers, that has worked closely alongside Maureen Klintberg, Gail Richard (pictured
right), welcomed the latest step in the community campaign.

“We are very optimistic about a facility and improved services in Mount Gambier and the Limestone Coast area and Tory’s motion to Parliament showed support from both sides which is fantastic,” Gail said. “What it also showed is that we are not the only regional area needing additional palliative care services throughout the State but what a need there is.”

The reaction to last week’s motion and the support that came from Member for Frome Penny Pratt, Member for Elder Nadia Clancy, Member for Flinders Sam Telfer, Member for Giles Edward Hughes and Member for Mackillop Nick McBride, has served to invigorate the local advocates that are leading the charge for a palliative care facility.

“Troy has certainly done a fantastic job and got our local palliative care needs on the agenda and certainly has support and that is the first step,” Gail said. “A feasibility study will be what is required next to be able to measure what the needs are in the community and what type of facility or services are required to be able to meet those needs. I believe we need a vision and a blueprint, so as a community we know what it is we are working towards and what government know what we want and what it is going to cost to enable us to get the needed funding.

“It is touching to know that this matter is heartfelt by all members and that there seems to be a united front that end of life care services need to be improved in regional areas including the Limestone Coast.

“ It also highlighted the vast differences in the experiences each member had either in their own family or friendship circles with end of life care and that we have a long way to go to ensure that regional areas have the same services, facilities and experienced palliative care professionals as our city counterparts, to not only help them have a dignified death but also support patients and their families living with terminal illness along the emotional journey.”

Safe to say, neither local advocates nor the Member for Mount Gambier are about to let this issue fade into the background.

“It is a really important motion and I am looking forward to working with both sides of parliament to progress the motion.”

Mr Bell said.

On the fundraising front, In Home Hospice Care have Bill Burley supporting them through the Blue Lake Golf Links and Dry July and they have two functions coming up – Happy Hour on July 14 and a Mad Hatters Afternoon Tea on July 23.